Blue Hills Honey : process : manufacturing

>		Blue Hills Honey has won plenty of awards but recently missed out at the National Export Awards. Was it disappointing to come away empty-handed?
		To be winners of the Tasmanian Export Awards(Agribusiness) was more than we expected and just to be in the same room as the National finalists with the high calibre exporters was very inspiring.
>		How important is receiving awards recognition to a company, in terms of the bottom line?
		Receiving awards are a way for us to increase our domestic profile and to be able to utilise the coverage we get for international marketing. Awards also recognise the great team we have at Blue Hills Honey (Australian Quality honey pyt ltd) and to know that we are heading in the right direction. Inspiration is our catalyst for planned growth.
>		Blue Hills Honey has strong ties to the Tarkine Wilderness area. Are you closely following the debate over the area's future?
		Yes. We view the area as pivotal in our marketing platform and its integrity must be retained in all future development considerations. We are the only apiary in the heart of this beautiful region. We source our organic Tarkine leatherwood honey from here, that demands a premium price on the world market. All Tasmanian Leatherwood Honey is world class and we are all privileged to be able to source this variety of honey. Like a good wine each region has particular variations (taste, aroma) of this premium product.
>		What is your view on how the Tarkine should be treated?
		The Tarkine has enormous potential for economic, social and environmental benefit. Any decision for future development must ensure that the integrity of this very special area is maintained and where possible shall retain the social and historical connections to the area. Access to some areas have merit. Once you have been to the heart of the Tarkine you will never forget the view of the leatherwood trees with their rose like white flowers cascading over the untamed wild rivers. The smells of the nectar permeate the dense forest. The magnificent red and gold hues of the majestic myrtle forests are a sight to behold. No one could deny a need to preserve and treat with respect such a special place on our back door step. The proposed road on the edge of the Tarkine would give those visitors a taste of what such a special area we have and intensify an argument for permanent preservation of the area. We are confident that we are in new times where there is a genuine appreciation and overall respect for sensitive areas by land managers.
>		Blue Hills Honey is almost the definition of a family business. What business advantages do you find from such a situation?
		Blue Hills is a typical family business and although it is a pleasant lifestyle there is a great need to be professional in the production, business management and marketing of the product.
>		Both Nicole and Robbie have been running Blue Hills Honey since the mid 1990's. What have you learnt during this time?
		Robbie began running the business in the 1990s on the passing of his parents and I married the boy next door 6 years ago. The learning curve for both of us has been huge and a great challenge. Neither of us had business experience and only persistence, instinct and commonsense, a desire to educate ourselves and our team. We all have a passion and believe in our product and ourselves. The business has taken a strategic direction and with the assistance from our local business enterprise centre and development, industry mentors and Austrade we have blossomed into a profitable, professional beekeeping enterprise accessing multiple world markets.
>		Economic factors across the globe are uncertain. As a prominent exporter, how is Blue Hills Honey placed to deal with these?
		These are uncertain times for many sectors. We firmly believe there are positive futures for agricultural sectors in Tasmania. The lower Australian dollar makes the price point of our product attractive for international markets. This coupled with quality and uniqueness are a recipe for success. Some countries view honey as a health substitute for well being as well as a food. Some SE Asian markets are interested in the medicinal value of our honey more than the taste or food benefit. This will require a research approached from our industry. The Tasmanian Beekeepers Association in conjunction with TIAR / Uni Tas and the Department of Economic Development are in the early stages of doing this. Our Leatherwood honey in Tasmania (plus other Tasmanian honey such as Tasmanian Manuka) are known to have activity (anecdotal) such as anti inflammatory, prebiotic, gastric aid and antioxidant levels 2 to 3 times higher than most Australian honey (2005 D’arcy) The value of honey (nutrition and medicinal) is not as well understood as we would like by the general population. We will be placing strong emphasis on those factors in our marketing of the product. The expertise and effort by the bee and beekeeper to produce a power pack of nutrition and medical benefit are truly remarkable. The benefits of honey have been around as long as mankind but often forgotten.